freedom of information requesthttp://michiganradio.org
enGenesee County family outraged over expensive freedom of information requesthttp://michiganradio.org/post/genesee-county-family-outraged-over-expensive-freedom-information-request
<p>A Goodrich family is outraged after being told they would need to pay $77,718.75 for information about their son.</p><p>Sherry Smith sent a Freedom of Information request to Goodrich Area Schools for 14 months of emails that mention her son, after the school changed her son's individual education plan for his disability.</p><p>"I never in a million years would have imagined it would amount to $77,000 worth," Smith said.</p>Tue, 30 Jun 2015 20:39:57 +0000Arielle Hines22622 at http://michiganradio.orgGenesee County family outraged over expensive freedom of information requestNew bill seeks to restrict public access to information about energy infrastructurehttp://michiganradio.org/post/new-bill-seeks-restrict-public-access-information-about-energy-infrastructure
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p>A bill just introduced in the State House would draw a veil over information about oil and gas pipelines, electrical lines and other key pieces of energy infrastructure.</p><p>Under <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(gngywgvlwkikecxolk2vs3jh))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&amp;objectName=2015-HB-4540">House Bill 4540</a>, backed by State Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, that information would be exempt from the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, making it no longer available to the public.Wed, 20 May 2015 16:00:00 +0000Stateside Staff22091 at http://michiganradio.orgNew bill seeks to restrict public access to information about energy infrastructureThe week in reviewhttp://michiganradio.org/post/week-review-13
<p>This week and review Michigan Radio’s Weekend Edition host Rina Miller and political analyst Jack Lessenberry discuss proposed bills to end lame duck sessions and make it easier to file freedom of information act requests. They also chat about the controversial right to work Pure Michigan ad that appeared in the Wall Street Journal.</p><p>Sat, 12 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000Jack Lessenberry & Rina Miller10723 at http://michiganradio.orgThe week in review'Freedom of Information' vs 'Academic Freedom' http://michiganradio.org/post/freedom-information-vs-academic-freedom
<p><a href="http://civic.moveon.org/foiaumich/index.html?id=26812-1249990-SBz9Lnx&amp;t=4">University of Michigan professors</a> are asking university officials to deny a &lsquo;Freedom of Information Request&rsquo; in the cause of &lsquo;Academic Freedom&rsquo;.&nbsp; The issue concerns email.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:01:01 +0000Steve Carmody2141 at http://michiganradio.org'Freedom of Information' vs 'Academic Freedom' Mackinac Center explains FOIA requestshttp://michiganradio.org/post/mackinac-center-explains-foia-requests
<p>The <a href="http://www.mackinac.org/">Mackinac Center for Public Policy</a> says their<a href="http://news.michiganradio.org/post/foia-requests-raise-concern-over-academic-freedom"> Freedom of Information Act requests</a> for information regarding labor studies at Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan is part of its &ldquo;regular&rdquo; activity.</p><p>Ken Braun is the man behind the FOIA requests and the Senior Managing Editor of <a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/pubs/mcc/">Michigan Capitol Confidential</a>, the Mackinac Center&rsquo;s newsletter. In <a href="http://www.mackinac.org/">a posting on the Center&rsquo;s website</a>, Braun said the requests were made because:</p><blockquote><p>&quot;We were interested in determining whether the LSC and the labor faculty at Michigan&rsquo;s other two large public universities had actively employed university resources to enter the political debates. At a minimum, we thought a FOIA investigating professors&rsquo; emails on these subjects might demonstrate whether state officials should ask questions about this use of tax dollars for public universities. In the worst-case scenario, we knew these emails might suggest that the faculty had acted illegally, because certain political uses of university resources are prohibited by Michigan law. &rdquo;</p></blockquote><p><a href="http://news.michiganradio.org/people/kate-davidson">Kate Davidson</a>, of Michigan Radio&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.changinggears.info/">Changing Gears</a> project, has been taking a look at the controversy and, in a<a href="http://www.changinggears.info/2011/04/05/foia-group-wants-labor-professors-emails/"> story posted today</a>, explains:</p><blockquote><p>&ldquo;Michigan academics aren&rsquo;t the only ones under scrutiny.&nbsp; Last month, the Republican Party of Wisconsin requested emails from William Cronon, a historian critical of Governor Scott Walker&rsquo;s push to weaken public sector unions.&nbsp;</p><p>In both states, the lines got drawn fast.&nbsp; On one side: an apparent concern about the use of public resources for political advocacy.&nbsp; On the other: fear of academic intimidation and reprisal in a politically charged climate.&rdquo;</p></blockquote><p>You can read Davidson&rsquo;s full story on the state and national implications of various FOIA requests, and hear directly from the Mackinac Center&#39;s Ken Braun, on the Changing Gears&rsquo; <a href="http://www.changinggears.info/2011/04/05/foia-group-wants-labor-professors-emails/">website</a>.Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:31:31 +0000Zoe Clark1920 at http://michiganradio.org